Echobox Explorer review - expatinjapan

`Move over iPod, the Explorer is a revolutionary new portable HiFi audio player that puts the feeling back into listening on-the-go.

Using state-of-the-art digital audio conversion technology, along with a powerful 300mw amplifier, the Explorer enables you to experience your favorite music in the way the artist intended you to hear it. Crystal clear highs, robust mids and silky smooth bass derived from the world-renowned "Burr Brown" DAC chip, combined with enough power to drive even the most demanding of headphones, and run entirely on an open Android 6.0 platform, the Explorer is designed to meet the exacting criteria of modern audiophiles.

And to complete the package, we have partnered with TIDAL, the world’s premier HiFi music streaming platform, to offer a free 3 month trial subscription with your purchase, enabling you instant access to over 48.5 million songs in lossless quality.

Oh, and did we mention it is made from solid hand-crafted hardwood available in four unique styles?`

The conception and birth of the Echobox Explorer is a long tale and one I will briefly touch upon.

I first met the Echobox team way back at a Fujiya Avic show in Tokyo, Japan (??/????, perhaps I can local some photos). They were off in on of the side rooms where I usually pop my head in ever so briefly as usually it is high end gear for home systems and I am more of a portable gear type.
I may have been by myself or with the Head-fi team, I forget in the haze of history, but they were quite friendly and showed me their dap, which I wasn`t too keen to try but was interested in holding it as it was a bit different. But I couldn't help but think 'why this stupid flask design?'. Surely If one wants to make it in this business sticking to the tried and true black box or rectangle was the way to go. And I wrote them off as enthusiastic dreamers aiming for a niche market of the smallest proportions.

Fujiya Avic headphone Show, May 2015. Tokyo.

Perhaps my first look at the Echobox Explorer.

Over time and a few audio shows I would see them again (mainly Gilly and their Japan representative at the time) and their politeness coupled with friendliness kept me coming back to say hello.
Eventually the reluctant reviewing site Head pie blog began and some how it was arranged to send samples of their Finder X1 earphones which were reviewed in the early rustic days of this site.

I hadn't tried the dap at shows for sometime as I was on a photo essay craze for shows around that time and wouldn't really listen to too much gear except that I was really interested in. Shows would make me fatigued and the rushing around snapping shots to keep the blog punters happy didn't help either.

Eventually around early 2017 I ran into Sam in the flesh for the first time at a local show and we rustled off for a coffee, and I had a chance to show him a great local cafe and to also properly listen to the Echobox Explorer. I was quite impressed as I had not listened to it for sometime.

I was not unaware of the various delays of the Echobox Explorer indiegogo campaign at the time, whilst not as delayed as other campaigns it was nevertheless delayed as are many crowdfunding campaigns. I followed the story on Head-fi and by reading the indiegogo updates and comments.
I was not a backer. I had enough daps and already experienced the thrill of a backing campaign earlier on with another company. So my emotional investment was minimal at best. I do like to follow various companies progress though.
As I had earlier met Gilly (who departed the campaign in due course) and later engaged in some online dialogue with Sam I had high hopes for the eventual completion of the campaign.

In the end the campaign was completed, there were a few build issues which the company addressed, and an early software/firmware update addressed other issues promptly.

In the end my earlier doubts about design were proved wrong and conservative and the general doubts I had about the eventual sonic quality of the player were dispersed.

As it stands my present view of the Echobox Explorer is a positive one, they set out and achieved their initial goal, which was to produce a uniquely designed dap with excellent sound.

An earlier interview with George Gill, previously with Echobox in late 2015

Echobox Explorer with the supplied UAPP app suggested to be used as stock player.

The Explorer comes stock with four different color options:

Mahogany - Maple - Zebra Wood and Ebony.

Echobox Explorer and ATH-ESW11

Specifications and features

Professional-grade audio hardware

Open-source Android OS

Hand-crafted genuine hardwood body

Wireless connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, DLNA)

1/8" analog & optical outputs

Free 3-month trial for TIDAL HiFi

64 GB capacity with microSD slot for additional storage

Sound

A variety of earphones were used to test and review the Echobox Explorer.
Music tracks were generally in 16/44 FLAC.
I used the UAPP app exclusively.

Echobox Explorer and Campfire Audio Vega

I am rather a shuffler when it comes to music playing these days. I have narrowed down my preferred artists and albums to a bare minimum and occasionally play a whole album.

This has resulted somewhat through choice as well as necessity, having started a new job with minimal commuting and cafe opportunities and also having a baby and son at home limits my portable rig time.

Nonetheless the time I do have is spent well, the choice between grabbing a tried and true dap and a review item at times is fraught with various stresses and XXXXX. The same is similar for earphones.
So it is always a pleasure when I have a review item I enjoy to use and listen to. such as the Echobox Explorer.

The DAC isn't the be all and end all, although each brand (AKM, ESS etc) often displays a certain characteristic aside from the influence of the AMP chip.

The Echobox Explorer uses a Burr Brown chip which usually results in a clean sound, clarity which can be interpreted at times as a slight touch towards the bright side, or more air between the various instruments and sounds. In this particular implementation and in combination with the amp choice it results in enough warmth to please and tame any overly digital signature or to be highs focused.

Ideally I look for a player that is true to the earphones used, and doesn't alter or misrepresent their intended signature.
The Echobox Explorer does this fairly well. generally it has a accurate, clean and natural sound to it.

The music is well matched and fairly even with the vocals.
The sound is engaging, rich with resolution and definition.

The sound stage on the Explorer is much larger on height and width.
The sound stage is increased in the width, slightly in the height whilst not much more in the depth.

Vocals are well matched to the music, at times slightly forward of them. The vocals being centered and/or upwards within ones skull.

The bass hits where required, when a track demands it..

The signature is a familiar signature neutral with a touch of mid warmth and clear highs, the Burr-Brown dac chip seem to fit in between the AKM dac chips and the Sabre ESS dac chips.

I found I could happily listen to the Echobox Explorer with my various favorite earphones and be quite satisfied whether on a daily commute, or quietly sitting in a cafe drinking coffee.

Echobox Explorer and ibasso IT01

User interface

The stock app of the Echobox Explorer is the UAPP app - USB Audio Player Pro app.

The UI is quite easy to use, and I little problem navigating my way around once I had grown accustomed to it.

There is also an Android option, but I recommend the UAPP app as it yields significant sonic improvements over the Android option.

Some menus within the UAPP app.

Size

As can be seen the Echobox Explorer fits nicely into the palm of ones hand.

The basic foot print is around the same as an ipod touch 6G.

The Explorer is more Thicc of course.

Expatinjapan trying out the Explorer with the Campfire Audio Vega and iBasso CB13 cable and Effect Audio 2.5mm balanced to 3.5mm single ended adapter. Early first look.

Tidal and wifiEach Echobox Explorer comes with a three month TIDAL code.

I tested the wifi within my house, bearing in mind I survive on blazing fast Japan internet. My router is on the second floor.
I found I was able to walk all around my house, upstairs and downstairs with the Echobox Explorer with no drop outs or pauses whilst playing youtube music videos.

I prefer to use the UAPP App that comes packaged with the Explorer and is the recommended player to use and shines over the stock Android app. The UI of the UAPP is fairly easy to use.

Those familiar with Android devices should feel at home with the Explorer overall..

Build is solid. Some early units has issues with wood cracking at the base but this has been resolved. Not an easy choice of material to work with, but oh so smexy good.

The lovely bend of the flask body fits within a hip pocket nicely when compared to traditional flat, squarish, black box dap design.

The top button is the main only surface control and doubles as on/off switch and volume knob.

The rest of the functions are accessible via its touchscreen.

For all intents and purposes I found the Explorer to have enough amplifying power. Although I didn't test it with any super hungry cans admittedly, for the average user the amount of leeway within the volume pot should well suffice.

The music is well matched and fairly even with the vocals.

The sound is engaging, rich with resolution and definition.

The signature is one of clear, controlled clarity.

The sound stage on the Explorer is fairly expansive, but not extensive, layering is acceptable..

Instrument separation is distinct and the Burr Brown Dac shows its standard signature with clarity, focus, speed and air.

It feels fantastic in the hand, especially when not using the cover, although that may lead to scratches, its a hard decision.

Although it `only` has 1GB RAM, I havent experienced any lag or slowness whilst navigating around the menus, very much like my ipod touch 6G. The Rockchip quadcore contributing to its speed and ease.

The campaign took its time to completion and had a few teething problems as already mentioned, but I am not here to critique the company but to review the Explorer. Although in my opening comments and elsewhere I have made statements that I am not oblivious to the history. Such are the perils of crowdfunding. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and deliver the product they did.

I found I could happily listen to the Echobox Explorer with my various favorite earphones and be quite satisfied whether on a daily commute, or quietly sitting in a cafe drinking coffee.

The Echobox Explorer nary faults in the sonic department ultilising a Burr Brown Dac chip when paired with the excellent UAPP player app, the styling of the flask is more an individual taste and one I have become accustomed to and now appreciate.

The Echobox Explorer, a stylish looking, great sounding mid tier dap that dared to be different.